Low extraction force connector interface

Abstract

A male connector interface which requires a low extraction force to remove the male interface from a mating female connector interface. The male connector interface has a tubular housing with an inner surface with a first inner diameter region having an inner diameter and an increased inner diameter region having a first end disposed directly adjacent the first inner diameter region and extending to the distal end of the housing for an axial length, wherein the first inner diameter region and the first end of the increased inner diameter region define a shoulder facing the distal end of the housing, and the increased inner diameter region has a first tapered portion disposed at the first end and increasing in diameter toward the distal end, the first tapered portion defining a first frustoconical portion of the longitudinal bore.

1. A male connector interface comprising:
 a tubular housing comprising an inner surface defining a longitudinal bore along a longitudinal axis of the housing, the housing having a distal end; 
 a central terminal disposed within the longitudinal bore of the housing; and 
 a support member disposed on the inner surface of the housing and holding the central terminal within the longitudinal bore; 
 wherein the inner surface of the housing comprises: 
 a first inner diameter region having an inner diameter D 1 ; and 
 an increased inner diameter region having a first end disposed directly adjacent the first inner diameter region and extending to the distal end of the housing for an axial length L 1 ; 
 wherein the first end has an inner diameter D 2 , and D 2 >D 1 , 
 wherein the distal end has an inner diameter D 3 , and D 3 >D 2 , 
 wherein the first inner diameter region and the first end of the increased inner diameter region define a shoulder facing the distal end of the housing, and 
 wherein the increased inner diameter region comprises a first tapered portion disposed at the first end and increasing in diameter toward the distal end for an axial length L 2 , the first tapered portion defining a first frustoconical portion of the longitudinal bore and 
 wherein the first tapered portion lies at the first acute angle α 1  with the longitudinal axis, and wherein the increased diameter region further comprises a second tapered portion defining a second acute angle α 2  with the longitudinal axis, wherein α 2 >α 1 , the second tapered portion defining a second frustoconical portion of the longitudinal bore, and wherein the second tapered portion is disposed between the first tapered portion and the distal end. 
 
   
   
     2. The interface of  claim 1  wherein 0.1≦L 2 /L 1 ≦1.0. 
   
   
     3. The interface of  claim 1  wherein the shoulder is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
     4. The interface of  claim 1  wherein the second tapered portion extends for an axial length, L 3 , wherein L 3 /L 1  is greater than or equal to 0 and less than (1−L 2 /L 1 ). 
   
   
     5. The interface of  claim 4  wherein 0.2≦L 2 /L 1 <0.8. 
   
   
     6. The interface of  claim 1  wherein the increased diameter region further comprises a third inner surface section having a substantially constant diameter D 4 , and D 4 >D 3 >D 2 >D 1 . 
   
   
     7. The interface of  claim 6  wherein the increased diameter region further comprises a chamfered inner surface section disposed at the distal end of the housing. 
   
   
     8. A method of testing a device under test with a test connector comprising the male connector interface of  claim 1 , the device under test comprising a female connector interface, wherein the male connector interface is adapted to mate with the female connector interface, the method comprising the sequential steps of:
 moving the test connector toward the device under test to engage the male connector interface with the female connector interface such that the device under test and the test connector are electrically connected to each other; 
 transmitting test information through the male connector interface and female connector interface; 
 moving the test connector away from the device under test such that the device under test and the test connector are electrically disconnected from each other, wherein the female connector interface is disengaged from the male connector interface. 
 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 8  wherein the device under test comprises a coaxial connector comprising a second male connector interface and a blind mate connector, wherein the second male connector interface is installed on the blind mate connector, and wherein the female connector interface is part of the blind mate connector. 
   
   
     10. The interface of  claim 1 , wherein 2°≦α i ≦10°. 
   
   
     11. The interface of  claim 10 , wherein 0.3≦L 2 /L 1 ≦0.7. 
   
   
     12. The combination of the male connector interface of  claim 1  and a mating female connector interface, the female connector interface comprising a tubular outer housing comprising an inner surface defining a longitudinal bore along a longitudinal axis of the outer housing, the outer housing comprising a tubular body and a plurality of fingers that extend from the tubular body to a leading end, a center terminal disposed within the longitudinal bore of the outer housing and adapted to receive the central terminal of the male connector interface, and a support member disposed on the inner surface of the outer housing and holding the center terminal within the longitudinal bore, and wherein the increased inner diameter region of the male connector interface is adapted to receive the plurality of fingers. 
   
   
     13. The interface of  claim 12  wherein each of the plurality of fingers has a protrusion disposed at or near the leading end. 
   
   
     14. The interface of  claim 13  wherein the protrusion has an outer surface that mates with at least part of the tapered portion of the male connector interface. 
   
   
     15. The interface of  claim 13  wherein the protrusion contacts the tapered portion when the male and female connector interfaces are fully mated together. 
   
   
     16. The interface of  claim 13  wherein the leading end of the tubular outer housing contacts the shoulder when the male and female connector interfaces are fully mated together. 
   
   
     17. The interface of  claim 12  wherein the increased inner diameter region and the plurality of fingers are mutually adapted to allow the inner surfaces of the plurality of fingers to lie parallel to an outer surface of the center terminal when the male and female connector interfaces are fully mated together. 
   
   
     18. The interface of  claim 12  wherein the increased inner diameter region and the plurality of fingers are mutually adapted to allow the inner surfaces of the plurality of fingers to lie at a predetermined acute angle with respect to an outer surface of the center terminal when the male and female connector interfaces are fully mated together. 
   
   
     19. The interface of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of fingers are radially spread apart prior to mutual engagement between the male and female connector interfaces.